Membrane dehumidification

Claim 1

A system for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising: a transfer medium further comprising a bundle of microporous organic hollow fibers disposed in parallel spaced relation, each fiber being further characterized by a radial microporous matrix structure and a hollow central axial capillary interior; and means for providing a concentration gradient across the transfer medium sufficient to cause continuous sorption of water on one surface and continuous removal of water from the opposite surface including, a hygroscopic collecting liquid stabilized in the pores of the microporous matrix, said liquid characterized by transport properties favoring the attraction and migration of water vapor molecules and having the ability to wet the material of the pores; means for establishing a low partial pressure of water vapor in the hollow interior of said fibers such that when the outer surfaces of said fibers are exposed to the ambient atmosphere water vapor molecules are transported through the pores via the collection liquid; and means for removing said water vapor from the hollow interior of said fibers.

Claim 2

A system for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising: a transfer medium further comprising a bundle of microporous organic hollow fibers disposed in parallel spaced relation, each fiber being further characterized by a radial microporous matrix structure and a hollow central axial capillary interior; and means for providing a concentration gradient across the transfer medium sufficient to cause continuous sorption of water on one surface and continuous removal of water from the opposite surface including, a hygroscopic collecting liquid stabilized in the pores of the microporous matrix, said liquid characterized by transport properties favoring the attraction and migration of water vapor molecules and having the ability to wet the material of the pores; means for establishing a low partial pressure of water vapor in the hollow interior of said fibers such that when the outer surfaces of said fibers are exposed to the ambient atmosphere water vapor molecules are transported through the pores via the collection liquid; and means for removing said water vapor from the hollow interior of said fibers.

Claim 5

A system for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising: a transfer medium further comprising a bundle of organic microporous hollow fibers disposed in parallel spaced relation, each such fiber being further characterized by a radial microporous matrix structure and a hollow central axial capillary interior; and means for providing a concentration gradient across the transfer medium sufficient to cause continuous sorption of water on one surface and continuous removal of water from the opposite surface including, a hygroscopic collecting liquid stabilized in the pores of the microporous matrix, said liquid characterized by transport properties favoring the attraction and migration of water vapor molecules and having the ability to wet the material of the pores. means for establishing a vacuum in the hollow interior of said fibers such that when the outer surfaces of said fibers are exposed to the ambient atmosphere water vapor molecules are transported through the pores via the collection liquid and removed from the collection liquid in the interior of said fibers by the vacuum.

Claim 6

A system for removing water vapor from the ambient atmosphere of a conditioned space comprising: a transfer medium further comprising a bundle of organic microporous hollow fibers disposed in parallel spaced relation, each such fiber being further characterized by a radial microporous matrix structure and a hollow central axial capillary interior; and means for providing a concentration gradient across the transfer medium sufficient to cause continuous sorption of water on one surface and continuous removal of water from the opposite surface including, a hygroscopic collecting liquid stabilized in the pores of the microporous matrix, said liquid characterized by transport properties favoring the attraction and migration of water vapor molecules and having the ability to wet the material of the pores. means for establishing a vacuum in the hollow interior of said fibers such that when the outer surfaces of said fibers are exposed to the ambient atmosphere water vapor molecules are transported through the pores via the collection liquid and removed from the collection liquid in the interior of said fibers by the vacuum.

Claim 8

A method of removing water from ambient atmosphere comprising the steps of: exposing the ambient atmosphere to the outside surfaces of a bundle of hollow porous organic fibers each characterized by a radial porous matrix structure and a hollow central axial capillary core; providing a concentration gradient across the transfer medium sufficient to cause continuous sorption of water on one surface of the fibers and continuous surface of said fibers by further providing a hygroscopic transport liquid stabilized in the pores of such fibers, said liquid characterized by attraction and transport properties favoring the migration of water vapor molecules and having the ability to wet the material of said pores; and exposing the inside surface of said plurality of hollow porous fibers to a medium having a low partial pressure of water vapor to remove migrating water vapor molecules to effluent.

Claim 9

A method of removing water from ambient atmosphere comprising the steps of: exposing the ambient atmosphere to the outside surfaces of a bundle of hollow porous organic fibers each characterized by a radial porous matrix structure and a hollow central axial capillary core; providing a concentration gradient across the transfer medium sufficient to cause continuous sorption of water on one surface of the fibers and continuous surface of said fibers by further providing a hygroscopic transport liquid stabilized in the pores of such fibers, said liquid characterized by attraction and transport properties favoring the migration of water vapor molecules and having the ability to wet the material of said pores; and exposing the inside surface of said plurality of hollow porous fibers to a medium having a low partial pressure of water vapor to remove migrating water vapor molecules to effluent.